Agenda item

(Report by Mr M Whiting, Cabinet Member, Education, Learning and Skills and Mr P Leeson, Corporate Director, Education, Learning and Skills)

1.               The Corporate Director ELS, Mr Leeson, introduce the report.  He advised that the report sets out the progress on the 2012/13 priorities in Bold Steps for Education, Learning and Skills, which was first submitted to this Cabinet Committee in May 2012.  The report indicated the key priorities and the achievements to services in relation to those priorities and provided a RAG rating on progress to date. The report sought Members views on next year’s ongoing business planning priorities. There was an agreement that the Directorate would publish Bold Steps for Education, Learning and Skills on an annual basis.  The document was currently being redrafted and part of the annual business planning process.  This would include existing and introduce additional targets and priorities for 2016.

2.               The redrafted Bold Steps for Education, Learning and Skills would be submitted to the January meeting.

3.               Members were given the opportunity to make comments and ask questions which included the following:

a)    In response to a question, Mr Leeson advised that where in 2012 the targets had already reached the targets set for 2015 the redrafted Bold Steps would reflect this and raise the expectations further especially on KS2 outcomes.

b)    In reply to a comment, Mr Leeson advised that the widening of the gap with children in public care was disappointing.  Part of the explanation was that when standards rising incrementally some of those children’s outcomes could look further behind.  The virtual school in Kent was very well led and received a very positive Ofsted visit.  There was significant focused work taking place in schools to address the needs of Children in Care to improve their progress at school.  Mr Leeson suggested that it was a RAG rating of amber.  He suggested that the Members Monitoring Group could look at the issue of Children in Care in more detail to look at the patterns across the County.

c)     In response to a comment, Mr Leeson advised that it was difficult to use national comparisons about gaps for pupils with SEN.  It was important to look at the data but because SEN were identified and assessed in very different ways in different local authorities to make meaningful comparisons was difficult. Kent did not want those gaps to get wider and using the national comparison was a less helpful indicator.  Kent wanted to see those gaps narrow. Both nationally and in Kent the outcomes for pupils with SEN was not good enough although, pupils with SEN were making satisfactory or often good progress in Kent schools.  Mr Leeson agreed to forward a detailed note outside the meeting.

4.               RESOLVED that:-

a)    the responses to the comments and questions by Members be noted;

b)    the progress being made in delivering Education, Learning and Skills Bold Steps from the Mid-term monitoring sheets of the 2012/13 Education, Learning and Skills Business Plans, attached as Appendix 1 to the report be noted; and

c)     the redrafted Bold Steps for Education, Learning and Skills be submitted to the Cabinet Committee meeting in January 2013.